Doug Crandall

Do you want (or need) your people to speak up more often? "Speaking up" is not a novel topic. Millions of books have been sold with the aim of teaching people how to speak candidly to power. But, collectively, we are solving the wrong problem... A better idea: release the people we lead from the burden of saying things the right way. Instead of teaching every person in an organization the nuances of upward conversations, place the responsibility for candid communication where it belongs: on each and every leader. We introduce well-researched dynamics to explain what holds people back from speaking up. We then equip leaders with actionable principles to draw out the candid thoughts of everyone on the team. It’s a topic relevant to front-line leaders and CEOs alike. If you lead someone, that person holds back. If you’re in an organization, there are hidden thoughts left unsaid—to the detriment of engagement and performance. https://tinyurl.com/y3vbb7m4

I'm a West Point graduate, the son of a West Point graduate, and the grandson of a West Point graduate who died trying to escape from a prison ship in World War II's Pacific Theater. During my time teaching at West Point, I co-authored and edited the book "Leadership Lessons from West Point." This keynote provides a window into the leader development philosophy and process at the United States Military Academy, how it has shaped programs I developed for many companies, and how every leader can learn from this great institution. And our daughter was a 4th-generation cadet. So I'm the father of a West Point graduate (2022) as well.